Here at Munchkin and Bear we’re proud of the fact that it was quite a process to find the perfect safe material for our play mats. Material which we knew had to be safe for babies and children, that looked great and that was durable and easy to clean. The effort we put in at the start means we’ve created products which can last years and years and grow with your family.
But, like all soft furnishings and baby products, our play mats need some love and care to stop them from becoming dis-coloured or damaged. Yes, we know new parents have enough on their plates without needing ANOTHER thing to look after so we promise we’ve made it super easy for you!
Cleaning up
For day-to-day cleaning of general crumbs, dribble and dust, all you need is a soft microfibre cloth, some warm water and gentle washing up liquid (like washing the dishes!).
Make sure you dry the mat after with a clean cloth or towel so it doesn’t stay damp. Try to avoid scrubbing as this could cause the colour to lift off the top layer.
If your baby, or older child, has been having a really good (/messy!) time on your mat and it’s in need of a deeper clean, then we have more tips for you.
Follow the cleaning instructions above, and then spread bicarbonate soda over the whole mat and leave it for 15 minutes. This can then be wiped and dried off afterwards.
If a vacuum cleaner would make your life easier please check you are using a proper flat head attachment so there are no bristles underneath to catch the surface.
Sadly we have heard from customers who’ve tried to clean their mat using products which contain chemicals such as bleach or Cif.
Please don’t be tempted to use these as they can strip the colour off or damage the surface of the play mat.
We know that for many of our customers our play mats are an investment and we want you to enjoy using them for as long as possible. If you use products like this (or alcohol based cleaners) to clean them, the damage will be irreversible.
And while we know baby wipes are handy for almost every eventuality, please don’t use them to clean your mat. We’ve found that some of them can cause slight discolouration, often not noticed on first use, but after a few occasions you will see it - again not something you can recover from.
We have a whole page of cleaning tips & tricks to keep handy
Avoiding tears or damage
Our extra special memory foam core allows you to drop an egg without it breaking but it also means heavy furniture might just leave a dent permanently! Keeping the play mat clear will allow you and your little one(s) space to play safely down on the floor.
We know from customers that many of you avoid shoes completely around their babies and their play mats but a visitor with heels popping by it is worth reminding them before they puncture the surface in error.
Keep an eye out for more unusual things like zips on the edge of a trousure cuff, moving around & therefore dragging something like that across the mat might just catch and tear it.
Still unsure? Just ask.
We know there’s a lot to think about when you have a baby so, as always, if you have any questions please get in touch with us and we’ll be more than happy to fill in the gaps! Live Chat or hello@munchkinandbear.co.uk
And we also have lots more information on our FAQs page.